Are Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmie Ward (pictured, left to right) the 49ers future starting safeties, or will Eric Reid still have a spot?

Safety Eric Reid’s fifth-year option was picked up by the 49ers for the 2017 season, a league source confirmed Monday morning.

General manager Trent Baalke recently conveyed that Reid, their top draft pick in 2013, would get that 2017 option worth $5.68 million if a long-term extension couldn’t be reached.

So what exactly is Reid’s long-term outlook? Well, it got muddled a bit after this past weekend’s draft, specifically with the selection of third-round cornerback Will Redmond.

Baalke said Redmond will start his career as a nickel back, covering interior receivers from the slot. What’s intriguing about that is Jimmie Ward, their 2014 first-round pick, was drafted for the same purpose and indeed blossomed in that role last season.

Well, Baalke said Ward eventually will be transitioning into a safety, a spot where the 49ers used a second-round draft pick last year on Ward’s high school teammate, Jaquiski Tartt.

Where does that leave Reid? After going to the Pro Bowl as an alternate his rookie year, his production and that of the entire defense has declined. Assuming a long-term extension isn’t in the works, it’ll be up to Reid’s play this season to convince the 49ers of another investment in him.

Last year, the 49ers didn’t have a fifth-year option to pick up for their 2012 first-round draft pick, A.J. Jenkins, who they cut ties with prior to the 2013 season. But they did exercise the fifth-year option for Aldon Smith, and just prior to awarding him a long-term extension last year, they released him after an arrest for alleged drunk driving and hit-and-run.